Faculty
members from several departments will gather on Monday, November
21, to discuss the recent outbreaks of violence in France,
particularly in the banlieues, or suburban blocks,
of Paris.

The panel, which
will take place at 5 p.m. in Neilson Browsing Room, will explore
the question, “Why Has Violence Erupted in France’s
Suburban Ghettos?” Panelists are Giovanna Bellesia,
Italian department; Martine Gantrel, Jonathan Gosnell and
Janie Vanpée, French department; Gertraud Gutzmann,
German; Reyes Lázaro, Spanish; and Greg White, government.

Meanwhile, Catherine
Housholder ’07, who is living and studying in Paris
for her Junior Year Abroad, gave her perspective on the recent
violence in a November
10 article in her Indiana hometown newspaper, the Kendalville
News-Sun.

The riots and
violence in France, which began late last month, has included
wanton exploding and burning of cars and buses, random attacks
on people and vandalizing schools, shopping centers and businesses.

French governmental
and law-enforcement authorities have struggled to regain control
of the neighborhoods ringing the country’s cities as
young people -- mostly immigrants and descendants of immigrants
-- claim to be rioting in protest of squalid living conditions,
poverty, joblessness and discrimination that has continued
for far too long without substantive attention.

The November 21
panel is sponsored by the Department of French Studies.